Should i upgrade my mh to 400w

[jarrett shark]

Well the story goes like this,i have 2-250w on the ends and 1-400w in the middle. I have all sps and 220gal tank has been running since
jan 2010. I see that i get better growth in the middle were i have the 400w mh, i was thinking of upgrading to all 3-400w but wanted to here your imput. Not sure also if i decide to do it will i burn sps or my other corals? The only issue i will have is that in the summer i hope my 1hp chiller can keep up. Right now it has no problem but i am scared to try no in the summer or wait till oct

 

[t4zalews]

get some lumenbright reflectors for just the 250w's...thats what I would do.

 

[mutateddogbone]

+1 on lumenbrites.

lumen brites or lumen max elites will bump your par up into the 600's 8" under the water

ditch the reflectors not the ballasts and bulbs. more efficient just to buy better reflectors and save you a boatload of cash in buying new ballasts and bulbs, not to mention heat and electricity costs

 

[jarrett shark]

Why they make it brighter or does it make it spread more light??

 

[mutateddogbone]

the design of the reflector focuses the light down into your water instead of letting light escape or bounce back into the bulb

 

[jarrett shark]

Ok thanks

 

[Reefer08]

What type of reflectors do you currently have?

 

[dvanacker]

What type of reflectors do you currently have?

Im surprise it took that long for someone to ask the obvious question.

Also lumenbright are good at focusing light but not as good as spreading light. If he needs large coverage a lumenbright may not work out. Before suggesting a reflector you should know the size of the area he is trying to cover.

 

[Mattik]

What K rating are the bulbs?

For example, if the 400 is a 20K, you could switch the 250's to a 14k Phoenix and increase growth rates as well. The 14k Phoenix still has great color, so I would think the combo may work.

 

[jarrett shark]

i have spider reflectors right now on a 220gal 6' L x 30'' H x 2'' w
i run 12k reeflux